London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lambeth 1896
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth, The Vestry of the Parish of]
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31
In the case of each infected house, an inspection was
made, and the drains and sanitary fittings tested, with the
results that of the 2417 infected houses—
(a) 423 (i.e., 17.5%) were found to have defective drains.
(b) 1177 (i.e., 48.7 %) were found to have defective
drains, or defective traps, fittings and appliances.
(c) 1240 (i.e., 51.3%) gave no result with the tests.
(d) 754 (i.e., 31.2%) were found to have defective traps,
fittings and appliances, but not defective drains.
Sub-divided according to the different notifiable diseases, the results are as follows:—
| Disease. | No. of Infected Houses. | Numbers shewing Defects as to a | Percentage shewing Total Defects. | Percentage giving no Defects. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drains. | Traps, Fittings and Appliances only. | Total. | ||||
| Smallpox | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 50.0 | 50.0 |
| Cholera* | 5 | 1 | ... | 1 | 20.0 | 80.0 |
| Diphtheria | 567 | 108 | 180 | 288 | 50.8 | 49.2 |
| Membranous Croup | 26 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 80.8 | 19.2 |
| Erysipelas | 315 | 39 | 101 | 140 | 44.4 | 55.6 |
| Scarlet Fever | 1302 | 217 | 400 | 617 | 47.4 | 52.6 |
| Typhus | 1 | ... | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
| Typhoid | 153 | 40 | 43 | 83 | 54.6 | 45.4 |
| Continued or Relapsing | 16 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 68.8 | 31.2 |
| Puerperal | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 44.4 | 55.6 |
| Totals | 2417 | 423 | 754 | 1177 | 48.7 | 51.3 |
* These were in all probability cases of Diarrhoea or Cholera Nostras.
It will be noted that 17 5% of the infected houses shewed,
with the test, defective drains, and 312% defective traps,
fittings and appliances.
Table K gives the average percentages for the last 5
years (i.e., practically from the introduction of the Notification
Act), and it will be noted with satisfaction, in regard
to infected houses in Lambeth, that the year 1896 is 17.1%
below the average in respect of defective drains, though 5.8%
above the average in respect of defective traps, fittings, and
appliances.